The 2022 Abu Dhabi GP was Sebastian Vettel’s and Danny Ricciardo’s final race.
As the 2022 Formula One season drew to a close in Abu Dhabi, the end of the season also signaled the future, at least for now, for two of the most popular drivers to compete in the sport. Sebastian Vettel and Danny Ricciardo will not feature on the grid for the 2023 season, and although they are now two of the most popular driver’s on the grid, that hasn’t always been the case, and they have had very different careers up to this point.
Sebastian Vettel will be remembered as one of the best drivers Formula One has ever seen, with four World Titles, 53 race victories, and 57 pole positions. These are achievements only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher can better. However, despite now being one of the most popular drivers in motorsport, that wasn’t always the case.
Vettel won all four of his world titles between 2010 and 2013 while driving for the dominant Red Bull team. At the time, the way he achieved his successes wasn’t entirely appreciated by most of the watching fans and media.
Vettel’s teammate at the time was another hugely popular figure Mark Webber, who at the time was at the opposite end of his career to Vettel, and many had felt he earned his chance to fight for victories and World Titles by building his career with teams lower down the grid. With Red Bull having the dominant car of that time, it was mostly a battle between Vettel and Webber for victory, and in most people’s eyes, Vettel was often seen as the piece’s villain.
This came to its most controversial conclusion at the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix when Vettel ignored the team’s “muti-21” order to stay behind Webber and finish 2nd by overtaking his teammate and taking the victory. Vettel’s reaction to this controversy didn’t endear him to the fans. When asked about it, he said, “I was faster. I passed him. I won.” This type of attitude and no-holds-barred approach to winning had most fans failing to warm to him.
Vettel’s appeal to the broader F1 audience didn’t initially improve when he moved to Ferrari in 2015 and was involved in more controversial and dividing moments. Most notably, during the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while following race leader Lewis Hamilton behind the safety car, he pulled alongside and deliberately drove into Hamilton’s Mercedes. Vettel did later offer a full apology for his actions. However, by then, further damage to his reputation was done.
During the later years of his career, Vettel’s character’s other side has been seen, and fans have genuinely warmed to the German. This mainly concerns his public stance and campaigning on broader issues outside Formula One. Vettel has been one of the leading voices on environmental issues such as climate change, even helping to remove litter from the stands following the 2021 British Grand Prix. Vettel has also promoted LBGTQ+ rights by wearing the pride rainbow flag when racing in countries where homosexuality is outlawed, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Vettel’s stance on human rights, freedom of speech, and the environment are far more critical than his Formula One achievements, so it is only fitting that as he leaves the sport, he is appreciated and loved as both of the most significant drivers Formula One has ever seen. Still, he is held in high regard for his true character and beliefs.
As for Danny Ricciardo, the circumstances of his leaving Formula One and the love the fans have felt for him throughout his career could not be more different from Vettel. While Vettel is leaving F1 by choice, Ricciardo is being pushed out after two disappointing seasons at McLaren. However, the past two seasons should take nothing away from the Australian’s immense talent and achievements.
Ricciardo has also been a fan favourite from the moment he entered the F1 paddock. His larger-than-life personality and infectious smile immediately made everyone fall in love with him. There have been no controversial moments involving Ricciardo during his career, and he has been loved by everyone within the teams he has raced for, including all of his teammates.
With eight race victories and 32 podiums, there have been many memorable moments for Ricciardo, including showing the fun side of his character. Perhaps the top of that list was his ‘shoey’ celebration, where he drank post-race champagne out of his shoe. Another was when he placed bets with team owners and won when Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboulhad got a tattoo after Riccardio earned the team its first podium in many seasons.
As Vettel and Ricciardo leave Formula One, there is no doubt that the sport will be missing two great drivers and two of the most popular personalities on the circuit.
